Pope Francis in Brazil: Resist "idols" of money, power, pleasure

APARECIDA, Brazil (AP) - Pope Francis is urging the faithful to resist the "ephemeral idols" of money, power and pleasure during a pilgrimage to one of the most important shrines in Latin America and one of great meaning for him personally.

Francis is in Aparecida to celebrate the first public Mass of his trip to Brazil and to pray before the statue of Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil's patron saint. His eyes welled up with emotion as he stood silently in deep prayer before the tiny dark-skinned statue.

In his homily, Francis appealed for the faithful to not seek out false idols of money and success that he said take the place of God. Rather, he called for Brazilians to keep Christian values of faith, generosity and fraternity.